Win-and-In Games in Division 1

<p>We've reached the final week of the 2023 regular season and that means dozens of teams are in a win-and-in position! The postseason is a goal for just about every team, and the playoff points have fallen into place. If you're in the bubble of about #27 - #38 in any division, there is still a path to be included or excluded from the postseason. This article will go over six very important Division 1 matchups of teams in likely win-and-in situations! </p>   <p><a href="https://my.mhsaa.com/Sports/Football/Playoff-Point-Summary">Click here to view Playoff Points </a></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>West Ottawa @ East Kentwood </em></h2>   <p>West Ottawa is currently the #31 team in Division 1 while East Kentwood is the #34 spot. Therefore, both teams should get in with a win, and the losing team is very likely to miss out on the playoffs. </p>   <p>This game is truly a toss-up. Both playing in the OK Red, these teams were both middle of the pack this year with wins against Jenison and Grand Haven. The current difference is that East Kentwood fell to Hudsonville 17-14, while West Ottawa defeated Hudsonville 27-7. Last season, East Kentwood defeated West Ottawa 14-6. So yeah, this could go either way! </p>   <p>As for players, let's focus on the seniors. West Ottawa is set to graduate the bulk of their O-Line, including Tackle [player_tooltip player_id='899523' first='Alexander' last='Hernandez'], Center Elliot Krater, and Guard Carter Scholten. Defensive tackle Chuck Gardiner is another graduating senior in the trenches. These seniors will look to lead the charge and dominate the trenches. </p>   <p>East Kentwood has many graduating seniors at extremely key postitions. First off, their longtime QB [player_tooltip player_id='241629' first='Casey' last='Joppie'] has been a consistent staple of this team for years. Second, RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='471404' first='Elisee' last='Kanda'] is a playmaker on both sides of the ball and will surely be motivated to have a huge impact. Third, [player_tooltip player_id='253244' first='Stellan' last='Bowman'] has taken off as one of the best linebackers in all of Michigan, and he could have a huge game. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Oxford</em> vs. UofD Jesuit</h2>   <p>Oxford is hanging on as the #32 team in Division 1 while UofD is sitting comfortably as the #16 team in Division 2. Although it's not guaranteed that Oxford falls out of the playoffs with a loss, it still seems likely. One thing for sure is that if they win, they're in. </p>   <p>Oxford has a few notable seniors on Hudl. First off, Brody Moore is a great player who was an all-district baseball player with his skills translating to the football field as an instinctive safety. Sean Wilson is a well-built offensive and defensive lineman who sheds blocks and pancakes opposing players with impressive strength. Lastly, Jay Cady is a 4.5-star kicker (Kohl's) who's got his eyes set on kicking at the collegiate level. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Ann Arbor Huron</em> vs. Holt</h2>   <p>Huron is currently the #30 ranked team in Division 1, while Holt won't make the postseason as they're ranked #48. </p>   <p>Seniors truly drive this AA Huron team. Elijah Easley is an extremely quick outside linebacker who is lethal on blitz packages while also being a high-upside running back with good explosiveness. He's a likely GLIAC prospect. [player_tooltip player_id='862133' first='Andrew' last='Harding'] is a dual-threat QB who has shown flashes at multiple points this season. He'll need to play well to succeed against a usually good Holt defense. There are several other great seniors playing for this program, and I'm actually confident they'll succeed here and live to play another week. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Utica</em> vs. Farmington </h2>   <p>Utica is just outside of the playoffs, ranked #33 in Division 1. Farmington doesn't have much of a chance as they're #47 in Division 2. </p>   <p>This is going to be a tough test for Utica, but if they win, they are likely in the postseason. Utica's seniors are headlined by their skill players. [player_tooltip player_id='249441' first='Zachary' last='Conley'] is a productive WR/DB who's had strung together some good performances this season. His size at 6'3" along with his athleticism demonstrated in the Track season makes him a weapon to look out for on every down. Safety Isaiah Mcgarry is another playmaker, this time mainly on the defensive side of the ball. He's got an offer from Findlay, and will surely be doing everything he can to help his team make the postseason. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Troy</em> vs. Fraser</h2>   <p>The Colts are currently hanging on at the #29 team in Division 1, while Fraser is a little further off as the #43 team, unlikely to make the postseason. </p>   <p>Troy is a very junior-heavy team, though they do have a few standout seniors. [player_tooltip player_id='216985' first='Nolan' last='Block'], a captain, leads the bunch as a running back who's had some great moments over the years. He's an experienced back who knows how to explode through open holes and he's quite good in the open field. QB [player_tooltip player_id='216987' first='Parker' last='Brandenberg'] is another veteran player who's had some playing time before an injury during Week 5. On the back of Oury and several Juniors, Troy will attempt to keep themselves in the postseason as they face a Fraser team with some great talent. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Howell </em>@ Livonia Franklin </h2>   <p>Howell sits at #35 in Division 1 while Franklin is comfortable at the #21 team in Division 2. </p>   <p>It's very likely that Howell needs a win here to move up enough to make the postseason. It's been a very up and down year for the Highlanders. Losses against Canton and Hartland don't look great, but last week's 43-7 victory over Brighton was sensational. Notable seniors for this program include the following; Safety Ben Brown, who's a well-rounded athlete and good tackler, linebacker Ethan Keider, RB Levi Curtin, and 6'6" TE Colin Boleratz. Livonia Franklin is a phenomenal program, and if Howell wants to win, it's going to take a full team effort. </p>

We've reached the final week of the 2023 regular season and that means dozens of teams are in a win-and-in position! The postseason is a goal for just about every team, and the playoff points have fallen into place. If you're in the bubble of about #27 - #38 in any division, there is still a path to be included or excluded from the postseason. This article will go over six very important Division 1 matchups of teams in likely win-and-in situations!